PV Sindhu sandwiched between Jagan and CBN. Locals Protest Land Allocation for PV Sindhu's Badminton Academy in Visakhapatnam.
Residents of Thotagaruvu in Visakhapatnam staged a protest on Tuesday, opposing the allocation of a two-acre plot to Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu for establishing a badminton academy. They argue that the site should be used for constructing a junior college instead.
The land parcel was granted to Sindhu in June 2021 by the previous YSRC government for a dual-purpose badminton academy-cum-school. The land, originally belonging to the animal husbandry department in Chinagadili mandal, was transferred to Sindhu's academy under strict conditions, prohibiting its use for commercial purposes.
Former corporator Ommi Sanyasi Rao, leading the protest, highlighted that while 3 acres were allocated for a high school, an additional 2 acres were requested for a junior college in Arilova. However, the previous government chose to allocate this land to Sindhu instead.
"We are not against providing land to the player, but it could have been allotted elsewhere. This land near the existing high school is ideal for the junior college," he stated.
The government order accompanying the land allocation stipulated that the land be used solely for the purposes of the academy and not for commercial ventures. The sports and youth affairs department was tasked with transferring the land to Sindhu's academy after fulfilling various conditions, including submitting academy registration certificates and three years of IT returns.
The protest underscores the ongoing controversy surrounding the land allocation for Sindhu's academy. While some view it as a commendable initiative to promote sports, others believe that the land could be better utilized for other community needs, such as education. The future of the project remains uncertain as the local residents and the government navigate this contentious issue.